A war crime is a punishable offense, under international
law, for violations of the law of war by any person or persons, military
or civilian. Every violation of the law of war is a war crime. Also, war
crimes are those committed during wartime in violation of international
conventions intended to protect civilian populations and prisoners of war.
You will note that many on this list, categorized as war criminals, ironically,
are among the most powerful and wealthy US citizens

1. Robert McNamara. Former US Secretary of Defense, helped
kill approximately 2-3 million, mostly poor Vietnamese, Cambodians and
Laotians. Not to mention a sizeable portion of the 58,000 dead US servicemen
pressed into that war. Not to mention that equal number of US veterans
who committed suicide in the years to follow. McNamara is an Elder Statesman
now, walking around freely today.

2. Henry Kissinger. Former US Secretary of State, had
a hand in the killings mentioned above. Plus condoned thousands of additional
killings in Chile, under the sponsorship of US foreign policy. Won
a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Elder Statesman, walking around freely
today.

3. Bill Clinton. Former, disgraced US President. Initiated
bombing raids against Yugoslavia and Iraq, neither country able to defend
itself, resulting in the deaths of thousands. Conducted punitive sanctions
against Iraq, resulting in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. Presided
during Waco Massacre and Oklahoma City Bombing, thinly-disguised war crimes
against US citizens.. Elder Statesman, walking around freely today, amply
rewarded for book deals and speaking engagements.

4. George HW Bush. Former super spy, former US
President, the first to graduate from the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) into the presidency and bring lessons learned at CIA headquarters
directly into US policy. While serving under Ronald Reagan, helped encourage
the Iraq-Iran war, resulting in deaths of one million people, allowing
US oil and arms dealers to profit greatly. During the 'Eighties,
helped encourage US sponsored military dictators in Latin America, guilty
of extermination of thousands of ordinary citizens, via US-trained "death
squads." Conducted pre-emptive war with Panama, resulting in
1,000-4,000 deaths, simply to topple former CIA henchman and drug lord,
Manuel Noriega. Elder Statesman, walking around freely today, basking in
limelight.

5, Madeline Albright. Former US Secretary of State under
Clinton. Condoned the punitive sanctions against Iraq that resulted in
an estimated 500,000 deaths of children. Remarked that such sanctions were
"worth it." Elder Stateswoman, walking around freely today.

6. George W. Bush. Two term US president, elected using
electronic, "black box" voting methods that permit no verification
of actual vote count. Conducted two pre-emptive wars, resulting in excess
of 100,000 US. Iraqi and Afghani deaths. Condones the use of torture
as US policy. Condones rejection of the Geneva Convention, becoming the
first US president to openly do so. Considers the US Constitution "A
Goddamned piece of paper." Embattled Statesman, walking around freely
today.

7. Dick Cheney. Former US Secretary of Defense, and signator
of the PNAC, and current Vice President. Accused mastermind of the 911
"terrorist" attack against the US (unproven), Cheney has been
called "The Vice President For Torture" by the Washington Post.
A staunch supporter of the Middle Eastern War Without End, Cheney, like
Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld bears particular responsibility for the conduct
of the war. Elder Statesman, walking around freely today.

8. Paul Wolfowitz. Former US Deputy Secretary of Defense
and architect of the Middle Eastern War Without End. Casualties in two
pre-emptive wars now exceed 100,000 deaths, not including the estimated
2,000+ US deaths and 15,000 wounded. Won a Presidential Medal of Freedom
for his work and a promotion to the head of the World Bank. Elder Statesman,
walking around freely today.

9. Donald Rumsfeld. US Secretary of Defense during the
Middle Eastern War Without End. A signator of the PNAC document that calls
for pre-emptive hostile acts of US imperialism conducted by overwhelming
military means (War) against weaker nations possessing scarce resources.
Aside from the estimated 100,000 Iraqi deaths, the estimated 15-20,000
US casualties (dead and injured), and the untold tens of thousands
or hundreds of thousands (millions?) who will suffer from the effects of
depleted uranium in the years to come, Rumsfeld remains convinced the "war
on terror" is just. A long time political appointee, Rumsfeld is an
Elder Statesman, walking around freely today.

10. Ruppert Murdoch. Token American. Media baron. Never
met a war he didn't like. Responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and
untold millions of refugees through media encouragement of harsh, US foreign
policy. Owns a sizable chunk of the US news media. Murdoch is the most
visible Godfather of the Mainstream News Mafia (MNM). Elder Statesman
and multi-billionaire news baron, walking around freely today.

Former USAF veteran (Honorably Discharged) and Elder
Statesman, Douglas Herman writes regularly for Rense and is the author
of The Guns of Dallas